Powersteering DON.docx

Defense Finance and Accounting Service

August 28, 2025

Defense Finance & Accounting Service

Request for Information Alternatives for server hosting of the PowerSteering application

1. Description of Need (DON)

The Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), an Agency of the Department of Defense, seeks to gather information to explore alternative options for server hosting of a commercial off-the-shelf software program identified as Powersteering.

DFAS leverages this application for its Lean, Six Sigma (Lean6), and Project Management program. The project library is a common tool used throughout industry employing Lean6 and project management initiatives to facilitate process improvement work and project coaching, collect and summarize financial benefits, leverage lessons learned and best practices, search for subject matter expertise, and support Black Belt, Green Belt, and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

This Request for Information (RFI) is part of DFAS-EPS (Enterprise Project Solutions) acquisition planning process seeking contract assistance for alternative hosting options for the PowerSteering application that comply with Department of Defense (DoD) requirements.

2. RFI OBJECTIVES

· Identify contract services that can provide a reliable hosting solution for the Powersteering application

· Identify contract services able to migrate the current PowerSteering application and its current data to a secure, DoD accredited platform Response to this RFI is voluntary and is not a prerequisite for responding to future solicitations. Evaluation of responses will be of their own merit.

3. RESPONSE SUBMISSIONS

Submit RFI responses via electronic format as a PDF or MS Word document. Files should not exceed 5MB and must include a cover letter on institution letterhead including:

· Institution name, address

· Points of contact, phone number, email address

· DUNS number and CAGE code Respondents should be prepared to provide, at minimum, a virtual demonstration of relevant capabilities upon request after the RFI period closes.

Submit RFI responses to matthew.s.keen.civ@mail.mil and CC brent.l.lehrke.civ@mail.mil no later than September 26, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

4. NO CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP

In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and not acceptable as a binding contract. Issuance of this RFI is solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. No consideration of unsolicited proposals or any other offers will occur. DFAS will not reimburse or make payment for any costs incurred in the preparation and submitting responses.

5. GOVERNMENT USE OF RFI RESPONSES

The Government may use any information provided in response to this RFI for its planning and market research activities. This includes using aggregated, anonymized information to develop future requirements, acquisition strategies, and solicitations. The Government will not use any marked proprietary information in a manner that would disclose your confidential data or give an unfair competitive advantage.

6. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION – PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

Information in the response the Vendor clearly designates as proprietary may be exempt from disclosure to the extent allowable under the exemption provisions of the Public Records Act. Vendors may not mark the entire response or the cost information as proprietary or confidential. All claims of exemption must be clearly marked and must include the citation from the Public Records Act for the specific exemption claimed. DFAS will not honor claims that are overbroad, vague, or not based on a statutorily authorized exemption.

7. DEFENSE FINANCE & ACCOUNTING SERVICE – BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. DFAS was established in 1991 under the authority, direction and control of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer to strengthen and reduce costs of financial management and operations within the DoD.

DFAS employs over 12,000 employees and is responsible for paying all DoD military and civilian personnel, retirees and annuitants, as well as major DoD contractors and vendors. DFAS is also responsible for preparing annual financial statements and the consolidation, standardization, and modernization of finance and accounting requirements, functions, processes, operations, and systems for the DoD.

DFAS also supports ~14,000 customers outside the DoD in support of electronic government initiatives. Customers include the Executive Office of the President, the Department of Energy, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Additional information about DFAS is located on our website at www.dfas.mil.

8. DFAS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT

DFAS currently has a vendor for the PowerSteering application that is not authorized to host DoD systems. DFAS is operating under an arrangement with the Navy Digital Networks & Application Division to host the PowerSteering application through FY26, but face challenges in FY27.

Web/Application server would house/host – Tomcat application Server, Upland PowerSteering and provide document storage for uploaded documents. Current allocated/used on Production server:

· Tomcat – allocated 10 G; using 2 G

· Upland PowerSteering software– allocated 5 G; using 2.5 G

· Documents – allocated 60 G; using 40 G

· Database server – SQL Server 2019 - (as of 6/2025) - Database size is approx. 20 G; Data_File_Size – approx. 17 G; Log_File_Size – 3 G

9. DFAS REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

DFAS is seeking information related to hosting services for the current Powersteering application that:

· Provides application server hosting to support pre- and post-production environments

· Meets DoD server hosting requirements.

· Will need administrators to be responsible for adherence and compliance with Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) for both the application and environment

· Application Security & Development STIGs (needs Upland input at times) & Apache Tomcat 9 STIG. (there are STIGs for OS for Web Server and Database Server and STIGs for Database)

· Would need Cyber/IA representative to accredit the application (work the package to get an Authority To Operate (ATO) from the Accreditation Office.

· Provide a federal off-ramp to securely transfer data to the new server to be compliant with federal regulations such as the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) and provide continuous monitoring.

· Can provide secure data transfer and enable service continuity

· Can be available 24/7 support

· Allow employees to access platforms from any .mil network/location via two factor authentication via Common Access Card

· Execute application upgrades and troubleshoot issues

· Admin Team responsible for supporting Web Application and site would be responsible for installing and upgrading/maintaining Upland PowerSteering, HighCharts Export Server (NodeJS), Tomcat

· Admin Team responsible for support Database – responsible for installing, maintaining, patching Database

· Admin Teams responsible for support servers that host web applications and databases – responsible for installing, patching, upgrading/maintaining Operating Systems

· Has the ability to run reports such as completion reports, usage reports, log-on reports, error reports etc.

· Server Specifications:

· Database Server Requirements

· Operating System: Microsoft Windows Server 2016

· SQL Server: Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (Standard Edition)

· Cores: 4

· Memory: 16 GB RAM

· Disk: 100 GB

· Application Server Requirements

· Operating System: Linux CentOS 7.(x) or greater

· Java Requirements:

· OpenJDK version "17.0.10" 2024-01-16 LTS

· OpenJDK Runtime Environment Corretto-17.0.10.7.1 (build 17.0.10+7-LTS)

· OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Corretto-17.0.10.7.1 (build 17.0.10+7-L TS, mixed mode, sharing)

· Apache Tomcat 9.0.73 (Note: DoD has requirements to be at latest version)

· Cores: 4

· Memory: 16 GB RAM

· Disk: 100 GB

· Established email server: Require email server or email relay to DISA

· Application Highcharts Export Server:

· Highcharts Export Server: A server-side application so image files of the new charts can be generated and embedded into export formats such as PDFs, Excel files, and more.

· Highcharts is a Node.js application, so Node.js must also be running in the system.

· Once Node.js is installed, Highcharts Export Server v2.1.0 will be required for PowerSteering 2022R1.0 and later.

DFAS’ initial population would be approximately 3,500 employees with potential upwards of 5,000 users.

This Request for Information (RFI) is part of our acquisition planning process seeking features, capabilities, cost effectiveness, alternative options and comparable solutions from hosting providers, software developers and vendors.

9.1 QUESTIONS

1. Would you be able to provide a range of cost for services for hosting and managed services, and/or licensing?

2. Do you have a contract vehicle like GSA, NASA SEWP, ESI, CHESS, etc., if yes, please state your contract number(s)?

3. Would you be able to support separate DoD Component of this application within a single server solution for this application to maximize synergies and efficiencies?

4. Are you able to provide a recommended process for migrating the application and data to a new host environment and associated costs?

5. Are you able to provide an implementation plan: a proposed timeline and plan for migrating the application to their hosting environment?

6. Security and Compliance: Are you able to provide details on how your services meet or exceed DoD security requirements?

7. Support model: Could you provide a support model and what is the typical response time for critical issues?

8. Are you able to provide a pre-production (test) and actual production environment?

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